Sunday, June 5, 2011

Car Camping

This weekend I went camping, for the first time in maybe 5 years. As with many activities that require some forethought, it's easy to talk yourself out of going. There's always a social event or house project to talk you out of the planning and packing that going camping requires. And part of the hesitation is remembering how great it is to be out of cities and towns and in the middle of a forest or desert with no wifi or phone service, but rueing the fact that there's just not enough time in life to do this enough.

So the first really nice weekend of the year, my friend Jim turned 45 and 9 of us went to the Indian Henry Campground in the Mt Hood National Forest, exactly an hour's drive from my house. I brought a borrowed tent, a sleeping bag, a folding chair, some food, beers and Victor. They had arrived the night before but I had to stay in town for a work event. I missed the big hike that morning, but shortly after I arrived we walked to a beautiful bluff overlooking a swimming hole on the Clackamas River.

Eating while camping is always the best part, whether it's preparing fancy food in a rustic setting, or an excuse to eat the garbage you normally wouldn't buy. For dinner, we made toasted sandwiches, an ingenious invention of Jim's wife Jessica. This river of plastic (sad) represents about 20 different ingredients that we had to choose from to stuff rustic rolls from Little t Bakery. I brought some leftover brisket and chicken liver pate, but kept my own roll pretty simple with a variety of cheeses and brined cherry peppers.


Then they get wrapped in foil and thrown on the grill above the campfire.

Dessert was a decadent chocolate-orange birthday cake that Jess made for Jim.

The next morning, Jim, who roasts beans for Stumptown, prepared our coffee with the type of attentive precision you would expect from a group of car-campers from Portland. I made a scramble with onions, tomatoes, smoked mozzarella and saucisson d'alsace from Olympic Provisions.

Before I left Portland, I made hobo-packs for the morning campfire of red potatoes, onions, rosemary, olive oil and a touch of vermouth. Then topped with some mild chevre after they came off the fire.

Now, my only complaint is that I don't know when the next time I'll have a chance to pursue more campfire cooking.




13 comments:

  1. I like car camping with my wife and daughter, and your blog reminds me a lot of the recent car camping expedition. I particularly like the dessert. See more here: http://survival-mastery.com/skills/camp/car-camping.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are somewhat smaller than the family version, although considerably sturdier due to their efficient wind resistance. Bushcraft Essentials

    ReplyDelete
  3. Make sure you have enough room to move or lie in the room without touching the sides of the tent. You want to make sure that if it rains, you do not get wet because you are stuck up against the tent. Best camping tent 2020 India

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is a great website.. The Design looks very good.. Keep working like that!. last minute camping niederlande

    ReplyDelete
  5. I definitely enjoying every little bit of it. It is a great website and nice share. I want to thank you. Good job! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contents. Keep up the good work. the lost ways second edition

    ReplyDelete
  6. A few camps run various projects that can improve the abilities and gifts of your children. There are likewise camps that have game exercises for the families. Camping Piana

    ReplyDelete
  7. In actuality, what to pack for camping trip don't should be too convoluted or too exorbitant it could be said that you can just go through a little while in a camp and don't have to get such a lot of stuff. boot camps

    ReplyDelete
  8. They are timely and treated the entire procedure very professionally.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like this book bag, but my child likes it more. The bag is lightweight but sturdy, click this site. It has all the compartments needed. It also folds and zips up to a smaller bag to be stored when not using it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Now I’ve the first-rate concept of the manner to deal troubles! Manner to them! alle casinoer

    ReplyDelete
  11. They were very good with communication and at making sure there was a good level of satisfaction. brand and marketing agency

    ReplyDelete
  12. Climbing gear is surely a region where you will have a lot of decision. Simply ensure that you require some investment in selecting the right climbing gear, and assuming you take care of it, it will take care of you while you're climbing. Camping

    ReplyDelete